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A Week’s Worth of Smoothies in Minutes? Yes, It’s Possible!

This post has been sponsored by Ocean Spray®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There’s a saying, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” I totally believe that’s true. I’m kind of a procrastinator; something I’m constantly trying to combat. Sometimes that procrastination creeps over into my diet as well. I love green smoothies. Love them. I blend up a smoothie just about every day…except for the days when I failed to plan. That’s why freezer smoothie packs are an essential part of my meal planning each week. I stock up on fresh greens, veggies, and fruit and combine them in easy freezer packs that I can pull out to use each day. Easiest breakfast ever!

Like most moms, I’m always trying to get my kids to eat more veggies. Who am I kidding? I’m also trying to eat more veggies! I’m normally not a fan of hiding veggies in food–I want my kids to learn to like the taste of the veggies. However, when they can easily be hidden in a yummy, fruity smoothie, I’m all for it. I find the easiest veggies to add are leafy greens, frozen cauliflower florets and/or shredded carrots. Freezing the greens makes them easier to blend and they also lose volume, so you can use more than you would if you were using fresh. Bam! Each quart-size freezer smoothie pack will serve 2 adults or 3-4 kids.

The new Ocean Spray® 100% Juice Organic Cranberry, Organic Cranberry Blueberry, or Organic Cranberry Apple are the perfect liquid to use when blending up tasty smoothies. I’m kind of a die-hard fan of Ocean Spray cranberry juice going back to my childhood. I’m glad that I’ve instilled that love in my children too.

Each serving of Ocean Spray® Organic 100% Juice contains fruit and 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. The juices are USDA Organic certified, non-GMO, gluten-free, and have no added artificial colors or flavors, or preservatives or sugar. For more information on their new juices or any of their great tasting products check out their site here!

If you’re lucky enough to live near a Kroger banner store (see here for store locator), it’s the perfect place to stock up on Ocean Spray to use in these smoothies (and just to drink). I’m thrilled that my local Fred Meyer has been stocking my favorite organic products. It’s one-stop shopping!

How To Prep Make-Ahead Smoothie Packs Like a Champ

Smoothie packs are pretty no-stress to prep. I’ve been doing them for so long that I’ve learned a few tricks and tips along the way.

Here are my best tips:

1. Have a plan so your smoothies taste good. You’ll notice that I’ve used a formula to help with this. The right proportions of ingredients makes all the difference! Use this basic recipe and swap in your favorite fruits.

2. Always label the bags clearly. Add the date if you aren’t going to be using them within a few weeks. I like to include how much liquid is needed, which makes it easier if older kids are blending on their own.

3. Buy big tubs of spinach or other leafy greens–they’re usually very budget friendly and by freezing them right after you buy them, you’ll never have to waste the last half of the tub again!

4. Pack those greens into the measuring cup. The freezing process breaks down plant cell walls and the greens lose volume and are easier to blend when frozen. (Totally sub frozen greens if you need to though.)

5. Don’t add the greens to the packs until last. For easier blending, ingredients should be layered in the blender in this way: liquid, leafy greens, frozen fruits and veggies. Layering them in the bag in the opposite order means when you add the bag to the blender, they’ll be right-side up.

6. Use a combination of fresh and frozen fruits if you need to–frozen fruit tends to be high quality and frozen at the peak of the fruit’s season. Contrary to popular belief, foods don’t actually lose their nutrients when frozen; using some frozen fruit helps the freezer packs to freeze more quickly. Plus, depending on the type of fruit and the season, frozen fruit may be more affordable than fresh and vice versa.

12. If you want to add dry ingredients like chia seeds, protein powder, dried spices, etc., to your smoothies, I find it works best to add when blending rather than to the bags. Unless you like digging stubborn chia seeds out of plastic bags. (I don’t.) But flavor enhancers like fresh herbs and spices can definitely go into the bag before freezing. My favorites: fresh basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, ginger, and turmeric.

13. What if you’d rather blend your smoothie, then freeze it? Cool. Add a little lemon juice to help preserve the flavors and leave room for the frozen liquid to expand. Just let the bag or jar with the smoothie sit in the fridge to thaw for a few hours or overnight before drinking.

Last, but not least, have fun! Turn it into a Sunday night activity and get the family involved and set everything up assembly-line fashion. Everyone will have fun putting together their own customized smoothie packs.

Instructions

Try to remove as much excess air from the bags as possible. Lay flat in freezer until fruits are firm. Store for up to 3 months in a normal freezer, or up to 6 months in a deep freezer.

To use, allow packs to thaw for 10-15 minutes for easier blending. Add the Ocean Spray® Organic 100% Juice to the blender jar followed by the slightly-thawed freezer bag contents. Blend until smooth, adding a little extra juice, if needed. Serve immediately or transfer to refrigerator.

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Loved it **What if you’d rather blend your smoothie, then freeze it? Cool. Add a little lemon juice to help preserve the flavors and leave room for the frozen liquid to expand. Just let the bag or jar with the smoothie sit in the fridge to thaw for a few hours or overnight before drinking.**